Skills for Social Impact: A Day in the Life of a Industry Innovation Fellow
Starting my career as an Industry Innovation Fellow at enFocus has been both exciting and rewarding. Coming straight out of undergrad with internship experience in manufacturing, but not much exposure to consulting, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Two months in, I can confidently say it’s been one of the most rewarding learning experiences of my journey so far.
Morning: Projects and Frameworks
My day usually begins with my go-to oatmeal shake and a short drive to the office. The mornings often center around my first project: developing an ERP readiness checklist and project recommendation framework for enFocus. This internal project allows me to combine research and design thinking skills I honed as an industrial engineer, while learning the consulting side of framing solutions/projects for sponsors.
I often check in with my project manager during this time to make sure I’m moving in the right direction.
“What I love most is the balance of independence to shape the work my way, paired with the guidance and mentorship to keep me on track.”
Midday: Collaboration and Connection
Tuesdays are always a highlight because all of the available enFocus Fellows gather for lunch, giving us a chance to pause, connect, and share experiences outside of project work. Sometimes I’ll also get paired through “DONUT”, a fun program that matches you with someone new at the company each week for a casual chat. It’s a simple, but effective way to network and build relationships across teams.
Afternoon: Helping PM Scope Projects
My afternoons are usually spent working on the scoping of a project with a local manufacturer in the precision gearing solution industry. Unlike many fellows who join projects midstream, I’ve been involved since the scoping phase, which has given me a front-row seat to how consulting engagements take shape.
This project has not only deepened my understanding of manufacturing processes, but also given me the opportunity to work directly with vendors to explore real solutions to our regional sponsor’s challenges. Many of these solutions focused on improving communication, whether through radios or mobile apps, which allowed me to dive into the details of APIs, cost structures, and how these tools can support emergency response on the plant floor.
“It’s been the perfect blend of technical problem-solving and business strategy, an experience I find especially valuable as I aspire to a future leadership role.”
Some afternoons I’ll switch gears and focus on professional development. Right now I’m diving into Power BI courses on DataCamp. And soon, I’ll begin visiting the plant in person as we kick off our project with the sponsor, which I know will add a whole new dimension to the work.
Every day as an Industry Innovation Fellow feels a little different, but what remains constant is the opportunity to learn, connect, and contribute not only to our sponsors’ success, but also to my own growth.